Patriots Bill Belichick Now the Highest Paid Coach in North America

With the retirement of Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson, Patriots coach Bill Belichick is now the highest paid coach in North America according to Tom Van Riper of Forbes.com

In 11 seasons on the New England Patriots’ sideline, Bill Belichick has won 72% of his games, made eight postseason appearances and taken three Super Bowl titles.

The Patriots have never publicly confirmed Belichick’s contract details, but industry pundits have little doubt that the long-term extension he signed in 2007 is north of the roughly $7 million annually that Mike Holmgren was getting from the Seattle Seahawks.

Two current NFL coaches, Washington’s Mike Shanahan and Seattle’s Pete Carroll, are pulling in $7 million a season, while Chicago’s Lovie Smith just re-upped for $6 million a year after leading his team to the NFC Championship Game.